Historic Markers Across Georgia

Fort McAllister The Assault From The Rear

Dec. 1864. Fort McAllister, built 1861-62 to close the Great Ogeechee River to enemy ships, mounted 11 seige [sic] guns, 12 field pieces and 1 10-inch mortar. Below it, piles and torpedoes obstructed the channel. As the Union forces neared Savannah, the fort´s capture became imperative in order that ships could pass up-river to supply them. Naval attempts having failed, Brig. Gen. So. B. Hazen´s Division, 15th Corps [Union], was ordered to cross the river, move to the fort, and take it from the rear.

At dawn on the 13th, Hazen crossed at King´s Bridge, marched via ´Cross Roads´ (Richmond Hill) and Bryan Neck road (Ga 63), arriving about noon. At 4:45, after a difficult deployment, he assaulted the fort; by 5:00, his three brigades had swarmed over the works and overpowered individually Major Geo. W. Anderson´s small garrison of 230 Georgians who fought gallantly to the end. Gen. Sherman watched the assault from Dr. Cheves´ rice mill, 2 1/2 miles NNW across the river, after which he opened communications with Adm. Dahlgren´s fleet [Union], waiting in Ossabaw Sound.